Tell me about maurice ravel

his childhood ( fam and friends)
his love life
his passion
his accomplishments
his death

Remember an artist through his works:

http://www.rhapsody.com/ravel
Pick a selection (Bolero, minuet, and a few others).

Ravel was an impressionist...do those works leave you with an impression?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Ravel

Maurice Ravel was a French composer and pianist of the early 20th century. Let's take a closer look at different aspects of his life:

1. Childhood: Maurice Ravel was born on March 7, 1875, in Ciboure, France. He came from a Basque family, which was known for its strong musical heritage. His father, Pierre-Joseph Ravel, was an engineer, and his mother, Marie Delouart, was a talented pianist. His mother introduced him to music at a young age, and he began piano lessons around the age of seven.

2. Family and Friends: Ravel came from a close-knit family. He had one sibling, a brother named Édouard, who was significantly older. Although not much is known about Ravel's friends during his childhood, he developed relationships with many influential musicians and artists later in life, including musicians Igor Stravinsky and Manuel de Falla.

3. Love Life: Ravel's romantic life is quite secretive, and there is limited information available on his relationships. However, it is believed that he didn't have any significant long-term romantic partnerships or marriages throughout his life. Some speculate that Ravel may have been more focused on his music and composing.

4. Passion: Maurice Ravel's passion was undoubtedly music. He had a keen interest in exploring new harmonic possibilities, complex rhythms, and integrating different musical styles into his works. He was known for his exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail in his compositions, making him a leading figure in French Impressionist music.

5. Accomplishments: Ravel's musical accomplishments are numerous. He composed a wide range of music, including orchestral works, chamber music, piano pieces, and operas. Some of his most famous compositions include "Boléro," "Daphnis et Chloé," "Pavane pour une infante défunte," and "Ma mère l'Oye." Ravel received several awards and honors, including being elected as a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts and being awarded the Légion d'Honneur.

6. Death: Maurice Ravel passed away on December 28, 1937, at the age of 62. In the later years of his life, he suffered from a neurological condition that affected his ability to compose and perform. The cause of his condition remains uncertain, but it is believed to be a variant of frontotemporal dementia. His health deteriorated, leading to his death in Paris.

To gather more detailed information about Maurice Ravel's life, childhood, love life, and accomplishments, you can refer to biographies, documentaries, and scholarly articles dedicated to his story and works.